Making a coop for 2 perchers and one disabled chicken who can’t perch!

[MROO]

If your gimpy girl prefers a nest box for sleeping, try building her a low bench perch. It can be as simple as a piece of fence slat or 1x4 on chunks of 2x4 or as fancy as a fake "nesting box" the same thing built across an open bottom. You could even make the "nesting box" out of cardboard or put it under a lean-board. Either way, your hen gets a safe perch and you can stop having to move her every night.

Instead of a ramp, if your girl hops, try using cross-cut wood pieces. Not only do they work as steps, but they makegood boredom busters, too. I have some in my bachelor run, and The Boys all love to play "King-of-the-Mountain" on them. It's VERY entertaining to watch!

This is from a playground site, but the concept is similar, but much simpler. You just use raw log pieces, which will biodegrade and give your birds yet another toy ... and maybe even some snack-bugs!

 

[rosemarythyme]

If your gimpy girl prefers a nest box for sleeping, try building her a low bench perch. It can be as simple as a piece of fence slat or 1x4 on chunks of 2x4 or as fancy as a fake "nesting box" the same thing built across an open bottom. You could even make the "nesting box" out of cardboard or put it under a lean-board. Either way, your hen gets a safe perch and you can stop having to move her every night.

Probably depends on the gimpy bird. Mine for example, can't stay upright without support (she sits against fences, walls, etc., in order to maintain an upright position) so even with a generous sized perch she'd simply roll off.

We did try a cardboard box sized to match the nest boxes, but she really prefers the nest box. If the boxes are blocked, she lies down in front of them (and then poops all over in front of the box area). So since it's not like we ever go out anywhere, we just keep manually moving her each night.

 

[Lazygaze]

Oh for the days of those cute little tiny chick poops

Because...

Yup. As she's disabled she doesn't lay, really doesn't do much of anything except eat, sit and poop, so the nest box is the last place I want her dropping her giant poops.

Because...

Yup. As she's disabled she doesn't lay, really doesn't do much of anything except eat, sit and poop, so the nest box is the last place I want her dropping her giant poops.

 

[Lazygaze]

What about a “handrail” on one side of the ramp so she could lean to the side if she had to?

 

[Lazygaze]

If your gimpy girl prefers a nest box for sleeping, try building her a low bench perch. It can be as simple as a piece of fence slat or 1x4 on chunks of 2x4 or as fancy as a fake "nesting box" the same thing built across an open bottom. You could even make the "nesting box" out of cardboard or put it under a lean-board. Either way, your hen gets a safe perch and you can stop having to move her every night.

Instead of a ramp, if your girl hops, try using cross-cut wood pieces. Not only do they work as steps, but they makegood boredom busters, too. I have some in my bachelor run, and The Boys all love to play "King-of-the-Mountain" on them. It's VERY entertaining to watch!

View attachment 2532612
This is from a playground site, but the concept is similar, but much simpler. You just use raw log pieces, which will biodegrade and give your birds yet another toy ... and maybe even some snack-bugs!

Ooh lovely idea! I will definitely do this! She will need a big wide one but I can do... ahh thanks for the idea. I can see my birds all lined up together on these

 

[Lazygaze]

Probably depends on the gimpy bird. Mine for example, can't stay upright without support (she sits against fences, walls, etc., in order to maintain an upright position) so even with a generous sized perch she'd simply roll off.

We did try a cardboard box sized to match the nest boxes, but she really prefers the nest box. If the boxes are blocked, she lies down in front of them (and then poops all over in front of the box area). So since it's not like we ever go out anywhere, we just keep manually moving her each night.

Can I ask... Do you have to wash her much? I wonder if I should wash mine regularly, I’ve done it a few times when her feet have been gross, but I’ve not bathed her/washed her belly yet. She does spend most of her time in a flump on the floor but she doesn’t seem to be poopy...
ahhh the joys...

 

[rosemarythyme]

Can I ask... Do you have to wash her much? I wonder if I should wash mine regularly, I’ve done it a few times when her feet have been gross, but I’ve not bathed her/washed her belly yet. She does spend most of her time in a flump on the floor but she doesn’t seem to be poopy...
ahhh the joys...

I haven't bathed mine yet, but I plan on doing so once weather warms up a bit, as she has trouble preening since she wobbles around on her feet, so there's a bit of poop here and there especially on the tail. In previous years, it wasn't an issue as she was more mobile and able to preen decently enough.

 

[MROO]

Can I ask... Do you have to wash her much? I wonder if I should wash mine regularly, I’ve done it a few times when her feet have been gross, but I’ve not bathed her/washed her belly yet. She does spend most of her time in a flump on the floor but she doesn’t seem to be poopy...
ahhh the joys...

If she has access to a good dust bath area, you shouldn't need to worry too much about bathing her, even her feet. And as long as she has a leaning post or bar, she should be able to keep herself out of the worst of the muck. With the exception of one not-so-bright cockerel, none of my birds seem to enjoy being cruddy They keep themselves as clean as the run allows them ... which is a REALLY good reason to make sure runs are clean and dry!

 

[Lazygaze]

Can I ask... Do you have to wash her much? I wonder if I should wash mine regularly, I’ve done it a few times when her feet have been gross, but I’ve not bathed her/washed her belly yet. She does spend most of her time in a flump on the floor but she doesn’t seem to be poopy...
ahhh the joys...

Am just about to start a new thread on the joy my disabled chicken experienced when I cleaned her dirty undercarriage